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Tag Archives: Spielberg

Wendy and I just finished watching the 2001 Series “Band of Brothers” produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg on Amazon. Outstanding series. Outstanding cast with surprise appearances by today’s best. Only 10 episodes. You owe it to yourself to watch it. Obviously late to the viewing party.
It centers around a company of soldiers in the 101 Airborne during World War II, that go from basic training to storming Normandy, Battle of the Bulge, and the fall of Hitler.

So many intense and touching scenes. A few towards the end shows the characters questioning the reason the United States even got involved in a war on foreign soil. It was then that the concentration camps were revealed…that’s why we were there. Some megalomaniac took advantage of that one moment in time, found the right balance between desperation and fear – and made people believe anything that came out of his mouth.

The beginning of each episode features very moving interviews with the actual soldiers that were still alive to tell the stories while making the series. Damn. The indomitable spirit and balls on these guys back then.

At the end of each episode text slides gives statistics and insights. I screen captured the last two in the series. We both had the same reaction at the end with respect to our current political climate. If you take either of the candidates for our Presidential election and replace the stats in the slides – insert the words, biases, and agendas they’ve spoken of – the abuse of power and irresponsibility they’ve shown. The experience or lack thereof. Their character and compassion. Can you fathom history repeating itself in this apocalyptic way under them (foreign or domestic), or do they seem resolute and destined to drive a purpose larger than themselves for the greater good of humanity?

I’m worried about our remaining choices. This is the best we’ve got eh?